Fresh Flower Arranging 2012 - Edible Crafts for Kids and

© Lana Glass 2012

http://EdibleCrafts.com

FFFRRREEESSSHHH FFFLLLOOOWWWEEERRR AAARRRRRRAAANNNGGGIIINNNGGG

Copyright Notice

This eBook is the intellectual property of the author. © Lana Glass 2012

http://EdibleCrafts.com. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or transferred by any

means.

Disclaimer

The content of this eBook is not warranted for correctness, and is used by the reader

at his/her own discretion. Follow the manufactures’ instructions for tools and

materials used to complete these projects. I am not responsible for any injury or

damage caused by the improper use of tools, materials, or information in this book.

I hope you will enjoy learning from this book and creating beautiful bouquets as much

as I did putting the arrangements together and writing this book!

Warm wishes,

Lana Glass

http://EdibleCraftsOnline.com

© Lana Glass 2012


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This information was found on

http://razzledazzleflowers.com/aboutflowers.asp

How can I make my

flowers last longer?

Certain varieties of cut flowers last longer than others.

Carnations, for example, can remain vibrant for long

periods. Roses have a shorter vase life, but are prized

for their special and delicate beauty. When buying

flowers, be sure to ask your florist how long you should

expect your arrangement to last. Whatever variety you

choose, a little TLC will go a long way to keeping your

blooms looking fresh longer. Here are a few handy tips

that can help add days to their beauty!

Essentials for your

flowers

Keep them in a cool spot (65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit;

18 to 22 degrees Celsius), away from direct sunlight,

heating or cooling vents, direct drafts from a ceiling

fan, and the tops of televisions or radiators.

(Appliances like televisions give off heat, causing

flowers to dehydrate)

When your flowers

arrive in wet foam

Keep the floral foam soaked in water containing floral

food provided by your florist. Be sure to follow the

directions on the package.

When your flowers

are arranged in water

Keep the vase filled with water containing floral food

provided by your florist. Be sure to follow the

directions on the package.

If the solution becomes cloudy, replace it entirely. If

possible, recut the stems by removing one to two

inches with a sharp knife.

Remove any leaves that will be below the waterline.

Leaves in the vase water will promote bacterial growth

that can harm the flowers.

© Lana Glass 2012


When your flowers

have woody stems

and branches (such as

Quince, Forsythia, or

Lilac)

Cut the stems with sharp pruning shears. Place them in

warm water containing fresh floral food to promote

flower opening.

What is floral food

and why use it?

Floral food is a combination of additives that help to

nourish the flowers and discourage bacteria from

growing in the water. It is one of the best—and

easiest—ways to extend the life of your flowers. It is

very important to follow the directions on the package

correctly. Improperly mixed floral food can do more

harm than good.

Dictionary of Flowers - http://www.razzledazzleflowers.com/meaning.asp

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AAArrrrrraaannngggeeemmmeeennnttt

• When purchasing flowers for your home, buy flowers that are in a bud form or

not fully open.

• Make sure your vase or container is clean and sterilized.

• Use floral food; be sure to follow the directions on the floral food.

• Use a sharp knife; avoid using scissors.

• Cut stems at a slant, and place them in water as quickly as possible.

• Try to avoid having greens or foliage below the water line, as it will promote

bacterial growth that can harm the flowers.

• Make a grid by interlacing the stems of the greens.

• Avoid putting flowers in and then removing them from the vase.

• Place your tallest flower in the middle, let this be your guide, nothing should be

taller.

• If you are making an all around arrangement, turn your vase a ¼ turn, as you

place flowers. This will help you make sure the arrangement is even all around

and uniform.

© Lana Glass 2012


• Add water daily and change the water after a couple of days, for optimal vase

life.

Step 1. Take a clean and sterilized vase (wash it in a dishwasher or with some

bleach), fill it with water and add floral food. Interlock your greenery and put it in the

vase.

Step 2. Put a myrtle in the middle (it will be the tallest flower in the bouquet).

Note: If you want the flowers in your bouquet to be spread out, you can leave them

longer. If you want the bouquet to be tighter, cut the flowers stems shorter. Don’t

forget to cut the flowers stems at a slant as this exposes more of the stem capillary

vessels to the water.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 3. Add a snapdragon.

Step 4. Add lilies. Remove the stamens (little pollen sacks) so that they do not stain

the flowers, furniture, or clothes.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 5. Add gerbera daisy.

Step 6. Add daisies.

Step 7. Add a rose.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 8. Add a carnation. If it is too tightly closed just gently open it with your fingers.

Step 9. Add an iris.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 10. Add asters.

Step 11. Add liatris (a tall purple flower), solidaster and any other flowers you want.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 12. Add a bow and enjoy your beautiful bouquet!

© Lana Glass 2012


Note: You can use all bouquets in this book as a template. By choosing other flowers

you can create other arrangements.

Colonial or All Around Arrangement

Materials: a basket, a liner, Oasis (or any other floral foam that absorbs water),

waterproof bowl tape, different kinds of flowers (in this type of arrangement the

flowers may not have as much water as in a vase arrangement, that’s why some

flowers that love water very much, for example, tulips won’t last long).

Preparation of the basket or container:

• Take a basket or container and a liner. Make sure your container and/or liner is

clean and sterilized.

• Take Oasis and cut it to the appropriate size for the container you are using.

Make sure the Oasis is tight enough that it will not wobble and there is still

enough room on the sides to add water. The Oasis should not rise too far above

the basket/container level.

• Soak your Oasis in a sink or large container; do not force the Oasis under water.

Fill the sink and let the Oasis gradually soak. It usually takes a couple of minutes.

• Secure your Oasis in the container/basket with waterproof bowl tape.

• Add water to the container/basket.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 1. Typically you will add greenery to the container before you add the flowers.

The greens will set the area for how large your finished arrangement is. Make sure

that you cut the greenery at an angle. Use the appropriate size pieces of greenery.

If the pieces of greenery are too small you will be frustrated trying to make a medium

to large arrangement and if the pieces of greenery are too large you will cover your

flowers. You need to put the greenery in a way that you can’t see the Oasis or tape.

Try not to rearrange the stems too much because you will leave holes in the foam that

weakens the foundation. After you put all the greenery in the basket, you can spray

your greenery with ‘Green Glow’

Step 2. Put the Carnations in the basket. If they are slightly closed gently fluff them

with your fingers. Put 7 carnations in a triangle shape in three layers (tall carnations,

smaller and the smallest), the tallest flower in the middle.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 3. Put in the Alstroemeria.

Step 4. Next place the Mini Carnations. Don’t put the whole stem in the basket.

Divide the stems into branches and then separate them into individual flowers.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 5. Arrange the Daisies. Again do not put the whole stem into the basket. Divide

it into individual flowers except the bud-end, which you can leave as it is.

Step 6. Put in the Statice. Scrap away any green stuff from the stem for a cleaner and

easier insertion.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 7. Finally put in the Misty blue (Limonium) or Baby’s Breath.

Step 8. Wrap the basket handle with a piece of ribbon (I used wired ribbon) or just put

a bow on the handle.

Note: Colonial arrangements usually have little or no space between blooms. They

are compact mass designs; typically semispherical, sometimes slightly peeked.

© Lana Glass 2012


Tips for a Triangular or One Sided

Arrangement

• Always start with a clean and sterilized container.

• Typically your one sided arrangement will be in a basket or container. Use Oasis

or floral foam that absorbs water.

• Soak your Oasis in a sink or large container; do not force the Oasis under water.

Fill the sink and let the Oasis gradually soak.

• Cut the Oasis to the appropriate size for the container you are using. Make sure

the Oasis is tight enough that it will not wobble and there is still enough room on

the sides to add water.

• Tape your Oasis to the liner or container with floral bowl tape.

• Avoid putting your flower in and taking it out again, this creates large holes in

the Oasis and weakens the foundation..

• Start out by making a frame of your arrangement; nothing should go beyond the

frame. Usually you will use “Line” flowers, such as larkspur, snapdragons, liatris,

stock, delphinium, etc.

• Once you have done the frame you can add greenery to cover your Oasis and fill

in.

• Now add your “Form” flowers, OR “Mass” flowers.

• Next fill in with your fillers and more greens as you desire, be sure to stay within

the framework.

Step 1. Prepare the container with the Oasis (floral foam that absorbs water).

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 2. Place 3 liatris flowers in the back. We start our bouquet at the back and work

forward. I would advise you to remove extra leaves from the stems when putting them

in the Oasis.

Step 3. Put in 6 roses (choose the color you like). Instead of roses you can use

cheaper flowers, for example, daisies. First put in 3 roses to form a triangle. Then put

in 3 more roses that also form a triangle.

Note: If you are physically choosing your roses, here are some of the things that you

should look for. These are tell-tale signs that the roses are fresh and of good quality:

• The stem of the rose should be rigid with consistent color from top to bottom. If

the bottom of the stem looks discolored and dry, it means that the stem has been

out of water too long and should be avoided.

• The flower itself should not be closed too tight. While there are many different

varieties of roses, and each variety has different characteristics (such as petal

© Lana Glass 2012


count and bloom size), you should look for a rose that is slightly open but not too

open. Give the rose a pinch to see if it has some substance and is not too soft.

• Roses are cut at the farm with their outer “guard” petals still on. These are left on

as long as possible and protect the rose in transport. The florist will usually peel

these off when making an arrangement. So, if you see a rose with bruised outer

petals, that does not necessarily mean the rose is a bad one; if the bruising is

limited to the outer petals, it probably means the guard petals are still on and the

rose is fresh–just ask the florist to remove them before wrapping them up for you.

• The foliage on the stem of the rose is a very good indicator of quality and

freshness. The leaves should be green and supple.

• If you are buying online, the best advice is to buy from a reputable flower

company that will stand behind their product. Many online businesses try to get

into the flower business during the holidays but are not experienced in buying

and shipping this perishable product.

• Look at the green leaves around the flower. If they are drooping then the rose is

old. If these green leaves look up, the rose is fresh.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 4. Put in the greenery. I used myrtle, leather leaf, and lemon leaf. You can spray

the greenery with “Green Glow”, just be careful and do not spray it on roses.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 5. You can add the pussy willow.

Step 6. Arrange the carnations.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 7. Put in the solidaster.

Step 8. Put in little asters.

© Lana Glass 2012


You can see that your bouquet has a triangle shape.

Step 9. Do not forget to finish the back of the bouquet so the Oasis is not visible.

Enjoy your beautiful bouquet!

Tips for a Waterfall Arrangement

Waterfall designs are contemporary, cascading floral arrangements – often

heavy with foliage – in which many layers of materials are placed in a steep

downward flow. Waterfall designs are popular today as both container arrangements

and bouquets to carry.

Although many believe the waterfall to be a new design style, it is related to the

“shower” cascading European bridal bouquets of the late 1800s. The style is often

depicted in the art, decoration, and architecture of the Art Nouveau period of the late

19th

and early 20th

centuries.

© Lana Glass 2012


Waterfalls are excellent when contemporary, natural, even romantic designs are

required, especially in situations where they can be viewed close up.

• Waterfalls are characterized by a downward flow of materials and are often

heavy with foliage.

• These designs are also characterized by their “layered” look – layer upon layer

upon layer of materials. Alternating foliage, flowers, and nonfloral materials give

them great depth, interest, and frequently, an undisciplined, untidy look.

• Waterfall designs typically comprise a wide variety of materials and therefore, a

wide variety of colors and textures. Nonbotanical elements, such as feathers; thin

metallic wires; and threads, yarn, ribbon, and other textiles are a few of the

materials that can be used to depict “debris” caught in the falling water.

Reflective materials, such as the metallic threads, can represent splashing,

glistening water.

Step 1. Take a sterilized container and put the soaked Oasis in it. The Oasis should be

2-2.5 inches above the container edge because we are making a Waterfall Flower

Arrangement. You may tape the Oasis with floral bowl tape.

Step 2. Take a piece of Italian Ruskus. Decide how long you want your downward

flow to be and cut the appropriate piece of Ruskus. Put it in the front of the Oasis.

Arrange the rest small pieces of Ruskus around the long piece.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 3. We use a lot of greenery in this arrangement so the Oasis is not visible. Put in

some Eucalyptus (long pieces and short ones).

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 4. Add the Myrtle.

Step 5. Add the Leather Leaf and other greenery as desired (Front and Back View).

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 6. Take one stem of the Lily or Sunflower and separate the individual blossoms.

Put them in the container. Lily loves a lot of water so do not forget to keep your Oasis

wet. Put the blossoming Lily in front, put it in really deep. Arrange unopened lilies

around so they are hanging down.

Step 7. Take two stems of the Snapdragon. Put them in the container. The color of the

snapdragon and other flowers in this arrangement is up to you.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 8. Use three roses, gerberas, or tulips stems. You can mix them. In this

arrangement, I used one rose and two gerberas.

Step 9. Add the Alstroemeria.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 10. Put in the three Carnation stems.

Step 11. Add the Daises and Asters (long and short pieces).

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 12. Put in the Statice.

Step 13. Put in the Solidaster. You may also add the Baby’s Breath and the Misty

(Limoneum).

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 14. Put in the Plumosa (Plumosa is a very light floral green, that can cascade

down or can be placed in a bouquet as a filler green). Be careful it has tiny thorns on

the stem. It’s better cut it with scissors instead of using a knife as you normally

would.

Step 15. Finish with the Lily Grass. Be very careful handling these greenery as you

could get bad paper cuts. It’s better to cut this with scissors not a knife.

© Lana Glass 2012


Tips on a Topiary Arrangement

• As always start with a clean sterilized container.

• Make sure your Oasis is snug in the container but do not tape it down until you

add your topiary.

• Get all the flowers that are going to make up the topiary ready. Strip off all the

lower leaves or thorns. If you will be using ribbon to secure the top of the topiary,

have your piece of ribbon ready.

• In your hand you will start to make a hand bouquet, as you add a flower turn the

bundle of flowers, add and turn. Be sure to keep the flowers together. When you

make a large topiary, you may want to tape as you go, to ensure that you keep the

arrangement uniform.

• Once you have added all the flowers you are going to add, tie the ribbon or raffia

at the top of the stems.

• If you are using a twig ball you will add the stems through the holes. Leave

enough space so flowers that are still opening will have room to open.

• Green or moss the base to cover the Oasis. You can add other flowers, fillers, etc.

The base of the arrangement is typically a round or colonial arrangement.

Materials used for this arrangement: a container, Oasis, moss, floral pins, ribbon,

artificial butterfly, twig ball, and flowers (roses, statice, alstroemeria, daisies,

solidaster, carnations, hypericum, and lisiantus).

Step 1. Put the soaked Oasis in the sterilized container.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 2. Prepare all the flowers by stripping all the lower leaves and thorns.

Take the twig ball and feed all the flowers through the holes in the ball. Give all the

stems a clean cut and you are ready to insert them in the Oasis.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 3. Insert the bundle of flowers in the middle of your Oasis. You will notice how

far down the Oasis will sink. Add some more water to the container. Make cross

sections of tape; be sure that your topiary is secure.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 5. Add some flowers and an artificial butterfly.

Step 6. You may add a piece of ribbon. It may be a bow at the top of the stems or

something else. I wrapped the stem with a piece of pink ribbon.

© Lana Glass 2012


HHHeeeaaarrrttt FFFlllooowwweeerrr AAArrrrrraaannngggeeemmmeeennnttt

Step 1. Take a heart-shaped container (basket in this example). Prepare Oasis foam

bricks (two foam bricks were used in this example). Press the bottom of the container

on top of the foam so you have the trace of a heart on the foam.

Step 2. Cut the foam heart. If the heart was cut out of two foam bricks, you can use

toothpicks to secure the two parts together.

Step 3. If you use a basket, put a piece of clear cellophane before putting the foam

into the basket.

Soak the Oasis heart in water and put it into your container.

If you used a cello piece, cut off the extra cellophane along the rim of the container.

© Lana Glass 2012


Step 4. Choose fresh flowers you want to use for your heart arrangement.

Insert several big flowers into the arrangement first. Then cover the rest of the foam

with the same type of flowers.

© Lana Glass 2012


Here are some other examples of heart flower arrangements

Note: All the rights to the following arrangements belong to sites I found those

pictures on. I hope that they inspire you to create your own masterpieces☺.

© Lana Glass 2012


You can create other fun fresh flower arrangements. The base is always made of

Oasis (foam for fresh flower arranging). Let your imagination guide you!

Fun & Unique Flower Arrangements

Note: All the rights to the following arrangements belong to sites I found those

pictures on. I hope that they inspire you to create your own beautiful flower

arrangements. Have fun!

© Lana Glass 2012


If you want to learn how to make Candy Bouquets and Fruit Bouquets, visit my

site http://EdibleCraftsOnline.com for dozens of free tutorials.

Fresh Flower Arranging 2012 - Edible Crafts for Kids and

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